<edited from support email>

On certain variables, we already have numerical values in our SPSS data set. On these questions, we also have other <specify> as a response option. We are finding that when participants select this option, Media Lab reports there is an error because there is text in the answer. When we check the SPSS file, the data is missing. I think it may be related to the fact that the variable is coded as a numerical values, but these new data are actually string because of the text.

How do we retrieve the missing data? How can we fix this problem so Media Lab can collect both numerical and string data on the same variable?